| Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford throws an underhanded backhand pass during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. (US Presswire) |
Detroit's coaches and players unanimously admitted Monday that the team’s 1-3 record wasn’t the start they envisioned, but they’re adamant in the belief that they can rebound and make the playoffs.
“Nobody’s panicking around here,” guard Rob Sims said.
Sims says the Lions’ goal is to regain the “reckless abandon” that helped the franchise earn its first playoff berth in 11 seasons last year.
“I think we were just out there trying to be perfect for the fans, ourselves, and the media,” he said. “We’ve just got to go out there and do what we do, which is be 11 guys out there playing reckless.”
One of the biggest aspects of the Lions’ game that hasn’t carried over from last season is an ability to score first-half touchdowns. Detroit has 31 first-half points through four games this season, but 24 of those have come from Jason Hanson field goals. The difference, Sims says, is in the details. “We’re a lot closer [to success] than it may look.” he said.
“A lot of times, we’re one block away. If we catch a pass, [the game] is different. In the run game, if we had stayed on our blocks one second longer, we could’ve had touchdowns.”
In addition to shoring up lapses in execution that have cost the Lions dearly, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan must become more adept at solving defensive alignments designed to limit Detroit’s potent passing attack. The Lions’ Week 2 loss to San Francisco exposed the fact that the offense could be contained by abandoning a blitz-intensive approach in favor of two-high safety coverage designed to contain Calvin Johnson and the rest of Detroit’s explosive receivers.
In the weeks after that game, Detroit’s opponents have successfully copied that strategy. The Lions’ longest play against two-high coverage Sunday was a 26-yard third-quarter pass from Matthew Stafford to Nate Burleson.
Detroit has tried to utilize a more balanced offense to force defenders to respect the run, but the backfield managed just 55 total yards Sunday against what coach Jim Schwartz said was a beatable Vikings’ front seven.
“We came off one of our most efficient run games [in Week 3] at Tennessee with one of our least efficient [Sunday],” Schwartz said. 3.4 [yards] a carry against teams that are loading up the box to try to stop the run isn’t necessarily bad, but against teams that have taken a light approach and played all of their players back deep to take away big plays, it’s not good enough.”
Despite his acknowledgement that Detroit must improve in several areas, Schwartz played the role of eternal optimist during his Monday press conference. He offered the example of the defending Super Bowl champion Giants as proof that teams can rebound from adversity if they maintain a positive focus.
“There's no harder thing than losing in professional sports,” he said. “I wasn't in New York [with the Giants] last year, but I can't imagine what it was like to lose four in a row, five of six. But you know what they did? They persevered through it. They corrected some mistakes and they got on a roll. We can do the same thing.”
Logan says players back ST coordinator Crossman: Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman’s performance has come under fire after Detroit became the first NFL team since at least 1940 [STATS LLC does not have records before that year] to allow both a punt return and kick return for a touchdown in consecutive weeks. Running back Stefan Logan says players believe Crossman deserves a chance to correct the unit’s mistakes. “We back [Crossman] 100-percent,” he said. Schwartz said after Sunday’s game that replacing Crossman was not a consideration.
Bell moving up depth chart: RB Joique Bell’s role with the offense is increasing on a weekly basis. Bell saw extensive action as a receiver out of the backfield Sunday, making six catches on eight targets for a team-leading 72 yards. He was also called on when Detroit’s pass protection required an extra running back. Bell’s rise up the depth seems to be coming at the expense of Kevin Smith’s reps. Smith did not have a carry or reception Sunday, and was seen on the sidelines without his helmet.
Pettigrew looking to eliminate key drops: TE Brandon Pettigrew made a team-leading seven receptions Sunday, but his drop of a sure touchdown affected Detroit’s comeback attempt. Pettigrew has a string of drops in key situations this year, and Schwartz has said he believes that Pettigrew occasionally looks upfield before completing the catch. “Sometimes, [I do look upfield], that’s the case,” Pettigrew said. “I just need to catch the ball, plain and simple.”
Reiff gets first official start in odd fashion: Rookie tackle Riley Reiff got the first start of his career Sunday when he reported as an eligible tackle on a pass play from Stafford to Johnson. The play was nullified by a pass interference penalty, but the NFL’s statistical guidelines define starters as personnel on the field for the first offensive or defensive play of the game regardless of the play’s result.
Avril’s MRI negative: DE Cliff Avril received positive news Monday after he was unable to finish Sunday’s loss to the Vikings because of a back injury. Avril told reporters that his MRI was negative, and that he would use the bye week to rest. Avril described the injury as scary, but said he was feeling better Monday.
Follow Lions reporter John Kreger on Twitter at @CBSLions and @JohnKreger.